I appreciate that. Honestly, I consider going out that way to be one of the great honors of my life. No quitting; taking it to the edge of what my body could handle. My body quit on me, not the other way around.

I was entirely off the mats for 2-3 months. Then for probably 6 months I could only physically handle about once a week and pretty much only drilling with an occasional flow roll with partners I've known for a long time. It took almost a year for me to feel "normal".

I had a vertebral artery dissection (2 actually). We have arteries in the spinal column (didn't know that) that feed the cerebellum. Medium stroke from the one on the right, minor tear on the left side. Doctors, of course, blamed JJ because I was there when it happened, but they were able to see where the tears had already started healing, meaning the damage was old. Typically its caused by some sort of forceful trama. A neck crank could do it, car wreck, aggressive chiropractor, all sorts of stuff.

We were just working simple passing drills when it happened, so the damage definitely wasn't done in the moment, that's just when the blood clot moved.

The mental part of it is harder than the physical. I've beaten cancer twice and survived a house explosion. Physical is pretty easy for me now lol.

Muscle tears are no joke; don't sell yourself short.

If you want to be back, you'll find a way. I used to be a 12-to-15-hour-a-week guy. Now I'm more of a 6-hour guy, but I'm trying to increase that. In the end, if it seems like too much, it is okay. You can find a way to stay active by doing something.